President of Business Operations Chris Canetti

2014 marks Chris Canetti’s 15th season in Major League Soccer and his 21st year in the professional sports business. Canetti joined the Dynamo in May of 2006 as the team’s Chief Operating Officer and was promoted to President in November 2010. He oversees all aspects of the Dynamo organization.

In 2008, he was honored with the league’s Doug Hamilton Executive of the Year award, Major League Soccer’s top executive honor. In 2010, he was named to Sports Business Journal's prestigious Forty Under 40 list of influential sports executives.

Canetti’s leadership has helped the Dynamo become one of the most successful clubs in MLS. He managed the development of BBVA Compass Stadium and the club’s relocation from Robertson Stadium. He has worked alongside Dominic Kinnear on the technical side and been a part of six MLS playoff appearances, five Conference Finals, four MLS Cup Finals, and two MLS Cup titles.

Canetti is also involved in a number of charitable efforts. He currently serves as the president for Dynamo Charities, the non-profit arm of the Dynamo, and is on the board of directors for the East End Chamber of Commerce, Deacon’s Dugout, Central Houston, the Greater Houston Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, and the Houston Boys & Girls Clubs. He also participates in the Big Brothers & Big Sisters program at Rusk Elementary School.

His most noted community work was in 2013 when he led the efforts to support Newtown, CT after the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy. Canetti organized “Soccer Night in Newtown” in which the North American soccer community united to host two special events in January and May to provide hope and healing for the town. Canetti has since remained active in the Newtown community supporting Newtown Kindness, an organization that promotes an initiative called the Charlotte Bacon Act of Kindness.

He has also recently spearheaded efforts to support first responders by recognizing members of the Newtown and Boston Police Departments at Dynamo games after the tragedies in their communities. He also led an initiative to support the Houston Fire Department after they lost four members of their squad in a 2013 fire.

Prior to joining the Dynamo, Canetti served as the Assistant General Manager for the New York Red Bulls. He joined the New York organization in 2000 when it was called the MetroStars. With the MetroStars, Canetti served various roles, including Vice President of Marketing & Public Relations.

Before coming to MLS, Canetti worked for the New Haven (CT) Ravens, a Double-A minor league baseball affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. He was with the Ravens for six seasons and served three years the team’s General Manager. His career with the Ravens was highlighted by the fact that he became the youngest GM in baseball, earning that position at just 26 years old.

Prior to joining the Ravens, Canetti was an Associate Sports Editor for the Shoreline Times (Guilford, CT).

Canetti received his bachelor’s degree from Quinnipiac University (Hamden, CT) in 1992. He was a four-year letterman on the baseball team. Chris lives in the Houston area with his wife, Judi, and daughters Kara and Ella.